Fluid control apparatus



Nov. l0, 1942. w, A RAY 2,301,581

FLUID CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1935 h//LL/AM A. QA); INVENTOR.

HvA/a@ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1.0, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE z,so1,5s1

FLUID coNraoL APPARATUS william A.- nsy, Glendale, calin w smsiiesuenv october z, .1939, semi Ne. 291,490 t (c1. 137-139) armature, when the same is in its normal or un- 3Claims.

My present invention relates to automatic iiuid control apparatus, and has for its Vmain object the provision of a pilot-valve-controlled fluidpressure-operated valve, comprising a movable partition upon Vwhich the pilot-valve structure is supported.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a valve, of the character described in the preceding object, wherein the pilot-valve structure also serves as a xxi'ainJ closure member for the valve.

Other objects and advantages of myinvention attracted position, may be adjusted by variation of the thickness of the pile of shims Il. Means for externally connecting a source of current to the coil 3l are provided by leads 39 and terminals 40, insulating secured in the upper wall description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figurekl is a sectional view of a fluid control valve embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section* asv of the casing I8 and the flange of a housing or valve cover 22, is provided on its bottomv surface with a main valve member 23, cooperable with the valve port 20. n the upper surface of the diaphragm 2| is a disk 24 having an upwardly extending internally threaded central portion 2i which -`Yprovides at its upper end an annular pilot A hollow screw 21, threaded in valve seat 2l. I the portion 25, secures the disk 24 and the main valve member 23 to the diaphragm.

Securedby screws to the plate 24 is an inverted cup-shaped housing 2l having openings u termed .in its side wam.A This housing serves to support an electromagnetic device, generally indicated at Il, and comprising an inverted cupshaped outer core'li, a cylindrical inner core l2, and an'energizing coil Il. Y

Arranged to be attracted by said cores when the same are energized is a disk-shaped armature 84. to the bottom surface of which is secured, by a threaded rod 3l, a pilot valve member I4 cooperable with 'the seat 2i. Guiding means for the armature is provided by the enlarged upper Vvend portion of rod 3l, preferably of non-magnetic material, which is freely slidable in a concentric cylindrical opening formed in core l2. A

of the 'housing 22. A stop member 4i, by engagement with the upper wall of the valve housing, limits the upward movement of the electromagnet housing and thus prevents possible shorting of the inner ends of terminals 40.

Constant fluid communication between the main valve inletv I1 and pressure chamber 4l, which is defined by the upper surface of the diaphragm and the walls of valve housing 22, is provided by a screw 42 having a restricted opening 4l therethrough. Dependent on the charac- `ter of the fluid which the valve is intended to control, this opening may be in the order of that formed by a No. 60 to No. 80 drill. A screen 44, soldered to nut 45, prevents possible clogging of the openingby foreign matter present in the iluid controlled by the valve.

Passageway 41 in screw 21 permits fluid communication between the chamber 4l and the main valveroutlet i8 when the pilot valve member II is out of engagement with its seat 2l. The lower end o! screw 21 is extended below the main valve port 2l and. also is provided with an enlarged borev. When the main valve is open, iluid flowing past the lower end of screw 21 produces an aspirating effect which tendfto reduce the fluid pressure in chamber 4i.

Assuming that the inlet- I1 of the valve is connected to a source of fluid under pressure, when the electromagnet I0 is unenergized, the pressure above and Vbelow the diaphragm will be equalized by duid iiow from the main valve inlet into chamber 45 through the opening 4I. The

diaphragm being downwardly biased by the weight of the pilot valve assembly carried by it, .the main valve'remains closed. When the electromagnet Il is now energized. the pilot valve is opened and the compressed .iiuid escapes from' chamber 44 through passageway 41 more rapidly than it can enter through the restricted opening 4l, permitting the fluid pressure below the 'diaphragm to move the same upward to open the' main valve. When the electromagnet is now deenergized, the pilot valve closes and the resulting equalization of fluid pressure on either side of the diaphragm closes the main valve.

spring I1, compressed against the upper end ot rod Il, urges the armature away from the cores.

wniie i have herein shown and deeenbed a embodiment of my invention by way specific The position of the cores with-respect to the of illustration,l I'wish it to be understood'that modiilcations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I intend'therefore that my invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a iluidpressure operated valve: a main valve casing having a passage therethrough including a main valve port, a flexible diaphragm closing an opening in an upper wall of said casing, an imperiorate housing secured to said cas-v ing and encompassing theupper side of said diaphragm, a structure secured in an opening in said diaphragm and extending on opposite sides thereof, the lower portion of' said structure providing a main closure memberfcooperabie with :saidv means providing constant restricted uid com munication between the areas at opposite sides -of the diaphragm, the upper portion of said struc-` ture providing a pilot.v valve seat surrounding said central opening. a closure member for said seat,

and electrically operated means within said houslng and mounted on the upper portion of said structure for actuating said pilot closure member.

2. In a fluid-pressure operated valve; a main valve casing having a passage therethrough including a main valve port, -a flexiblev diaphragm.

closing an opening in an upper wall of said casing, an imperforate-housing secured to said casing above said diaphragm to form with the same a pressure chamber, a structure secured `:ln an opening in said diaphragm' and extending on opposite sides thereof, the lower portion of saidv valve seat, said structure having a central open.v 4

structure providing a main closure member cooperable with said port to control ow through' said passage, said structure having a central at ythe surfaces of' the structure on opposite pilotclosure member.

3. In a fluid pressure operated valve: a main valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, a ported partitionseparatingsaid inlet and said outlet and having a main valve seat in a horizontal plane at the inlet side of the partition, a flexible diaphragm' closing an opening in the top wall of said casing, an imperforate housing secured to said casing above said diaphragm and defining with the diaphragm a pressure chamber, a structure secured in an opening in said diaphragm and extending on opposite sides thereof,

the lower portion of said structure providing a main closure member cooperable with said main ing therethrough interconnecting said outlet and said pressure chamber, means providingI constant restricted fluid communication between'the areas at-opposite sides of the diaphragm, the upper portion of said structure providing 'a pilotl valve seat surrounding the upper end of said central opening and in a plane parallel to said main valve seat, a closure member cooperable with said pilot valve seat, and electrically operated means entirely within said pressure chamber and mounted on the upper portion of said structure for actuating said pilot. closure member.

' WILLIAM A. RAY. 

